Google Maps Worth the Hype?

edparsons.com � Blog Archive � Google Geography Apps - Do they justify the hype ?

Ed Parsons has a nice little opinion piece on the affect Google Maps really has on the GIS industry vs the availability and usability of geographic data to the general public.

"I don’t think [Google is] very much bothered about the traditional GI[S] industry, it is too small and too inward looking for them to care.

What they have done with great success is make “fit for purpose” geographic information available to the general public in a form that is easy to use"